Illinois Nursing Home Guide

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

Most of the residents in nursing homes are simply not well enough to take care of themselves, and so they require around the clock care and treatment from the staff and physicians of the nursing home. However, the unfortunate reality is that many of those residents eventually deteriorate to the point where they can no longer communicate their wants and needs, or their level of pain. With that, of course, comes their inability to communicate or complain about any abuse or neglect they may be experiencing at the nursing home. That is why family, friends, and loved ones need to learn to identify signs of nursing home abuse and neglect. The following is a non-exhaustive list of red flags to look for:

Signs of physical abuse:

Unexplained cuts, bruises, wounds, welts or fractures

Unexplained injuries

Being treated and handled with excessive force

Slapping, pushing, shaking, beating

Untreated medical or dental problems

Signs of neglect:

Bed sores (also knows as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers) - this includes the development of new bed sores and the deterioration and worsening of existing sores

Infections

Not being on an air mattress when the resident has existing deep bed sores